’05 grad René Colato Laínez Named as a Finalist for the 2019 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature

We are so thrilled to announce that 2005 WCYA grad René Colato Laínez has been announced as a finalist for the prestigious NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature! The shortlist is selected with one very important criterion: the writer or illustrator must have an ongoing positive impact on children’s literature either in a single publication or over a lifetime writing career. The jury contains nine international writers and artists including WCYA’ s very own faculty member, Uma Krishnaswami.

Robert Con Davis-Undiano, executive director of World Literature Today, says “The NSK Prize celebrates the very best in children’s literature, and this year is no exception.”

The finalists for the 2019 NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature are:

Margarita Engle, Cuba/United States

René Colato Laínez, El Salvador

Ana Maria Machado, Brazil

Isabel Minhós Martins, Portugal

Hilary McKay, United Kingdom

Yuyi Morales, Mexico/United States

Beverley Naidoo, South Africa

Renée Watson, United States

Jeanette Winter, United States

Stay tuned, as the winner of the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s Literature will be awarded October 9, 2018.